The Best Builders in Lower Hutt
Updated 8 May 2023
Summary:
Our Lower Hutt builder guide covers:
- Asking for quotes and picking a builder is a big job and a lot of careful consideration is needed. Whether you're renovating, extending, adding a feature or building a work from the ground up, having a trusted builder is essential. If you're at the quote stage, the next step involves finding a reliable and trusted builder in Lower Hutt who can take your dream to reality.
- To help you and put you in the strongest position, we've handpicked a list of reliable, affordable and trusted builders in Lower Hutt to save you time and money.
Our Lower Hutt builder guide covers:
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How Much Should I Pay a Builder?
As a rough guide, around a third of the budget for any self-build or renovation project goes into labour costs. Unlike basic DIY projects, few people have the skills builders have. Hiring a builder outsources all the risk and project management, including finding specialists for specific work.
If you project manage the building project yourself, you’ll save on labour costs but be heavily involved in the day-to-day progress. You will also have to manage deliveries, schedule work, assess the quality of work done and come up with a plan if things go wrong.
Be Aware: Labour shortages are rife all over Lower Hutt
Right now in Lower Hutt there is, generally, a lack of builders. Finding tradespeople who are available has become a problem. This means that the most experienced builders are able to command a higher price given the demand for their services.
If you project manage the building project yourself, you’ll save on labour costs but be heavily involved in the day-to-day progress. You will also have to manage deliveries, schedule work, assess the quality of work done and come up with a plan if things go wrong.
Be Aware: Labour shortages are rife all over Lower Hutt
Right now in Lower Hutt there is, generally, a lack of builders. Finding tradespeople who are available has become a problem. This means that the most experienced builders are able to command a higher price given the demand for their services.
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How to Get Realistic Quotes from Builders
Whatever your project, be it a new house or simple extension, getting building quotes is time-consuming but fundamental to your plans. Rush the quote process, and you could be stuck with a big bill, a lousy job, or both. Simply agreeing to the first quote is unwise, as there are many reasons why prices will vary between builder. We outline a suggested process to get the best quotes and ….
Understand what an estimate or quote actually is
The jargon used for building projects can be unfamiliar. To make things simple:
Be 100% clear about the work required
As you’d expect, the more information you give, and the more specific you are, the more accurate your quote will be. You’ll know upfront what the likely costs are, rather than finding out extras have been added on because your design specification didn’t include important essentials. If your specification is not clear, any fixed-price quote may be meaningless due to the additional costs incurred to complete the project.
Understand why do quotes vary so much
After completing your design specification, the next step is to ask several trusted builders (our list of top 5 Lower Hutt builders below is a good start) for a quote. You will almost certainly get a range of estimates and quotes, due to a few factors we explain next:
Warning: Cheap Quote vs Final Cost
Understand what an estimate or quote actually is
The jargon used for building projects can be unfamiliar. To make things simple:
- An ‘estimate’ is just that: an informed but non-binding guess of what a job might cost. You will receive an estimate most often on renovation work, where it’s not completely clear what the full extent of the job will be.
- A ‘fixed-price quote’ is an agreed price based on work shown on a drawing or specific design. As long as nothing changes, the fixed-price quote is the total of what you will pay. Any variations to the specific design will incur an ‘extra over’ cost, which will be advised to you before work is carried out.
Be 100% clear about the work required
As you’d expect, the more information you give, and the more specific you are, the more accurate your quote will be. You’ll know upfront what the likely costs are, rather than finding out extras have been added on because your design specification didn’t include important essentials. If your specification is not clear, any fixed-price quote may be meaningless due to the additional costs incurred to complete the project.
Understand why do quotes vary so much
After completing your design specification, the next step is to ask several trusted builders (our list of top 5 Lower Hutt builders below is a good start) for a quote. You will almost certainly get a range of estimates and quotes, due to a few factors we explain next:
- Demand – Lower Hutt, generally, is a high-demand building region. Builders know that someone is always willing to pay the going rate, even if that’s not going to be you. For this reason, builders who are available will quote less, whereas those with firm orders booked up months in advance will quote higher, or not at all.
- Single quotes – If you’ve got a pre-existing relationship with a builder, or been referred one in particular, the builder may know you’re only sourcing one quote. This means they know they are setting the market, so it may be higher because you prefer to go with them.
- Bait and Upgrade – Builders know that once a job is accepted and work starts, it’s very unlikely they’ll be kicked off. Because everyone loves a cheap quote, a builder pricing low can get a foot in the door. But this shouldn’t be agreed to without full consideration. A cheap quote can quickly be irrelevant if there are charges for additional work not included. This is the major reason why being as detailed as possible in your building specification is essential.
Warning: Cheap Quote vs Final Cost
- There’s a big difference between a cheap quote and a quote that offers value-for-money. If one is significantly lower than the others, then be very careful about accepting it.
- The more detailed the quote, the better, especially around pricing. A
- price-breakdown that shows everything covered and specifies what everything will cost is best. This lets you compare like-for-like.
- If you want more detail, or for some prices to be verified, ask the builder - there is no point in staying in the dark, as you, and you only, are paying 100% of the costs.
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What Stages are Payments Made to a Builder?
- Agree a written specification for when payments will be made.
- Make payments when pre-agreed stages are completed. For example, make a payment when foundations are poured, when brickwork erected, when the roof is completed etc.
- As most builders will operate credit accounts at their merchants (i.e. Placemakers, ITM and Carters), so shouldn't require payments in advance. But, cash is king to every business - especially builders. For this reason, do your best to pay on-time as agreed without the builder needing to follow you up.
- You may want to agree a retention, i.e 5% for 6 months, or 3% for 12 months, to guarantee against faulty workmanship.
- Tell the truth to your builder, and establish a good working relationship by being responsive and reliable. It's a business relationship afterall.
How do I pay a builder?
Most builders accept a range of payment methods, including
As mentioned above, cash is king to building business. Pay on time to avoid any tension in your working relationship.
- Direct Credit (internet banking)
- Cheque
- Credit Card via the builder's website (this will only apply for smaller-sized transactions, and a surcharge may apply)
As mentioned above, cash is king to building business. Pay on time to avoid any tension in your working relationship.
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Trusted Lower Hutt Builders
Our list below, which is no particular order, covers Lower Hutt. We have selected these based on their history of longstanding service within Lower Hutt, location and data extracted from internet reviews on Google Business, BuildersCrack, Facebook, TradeMe Services and others.
Able Spaces
Base: Stokes Valley, Lower Hutt
Hours: Tue to Fri 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Google Rating: 4.9/5
Website: Able Spaces
Facebook page: Able Spaces
Email address: sales@ablespaces.co.nz
Phone: 0800 277 223
Service Areas: Wellington area
Customer Feedback:
Pros:
Cons:
Hours: Tue to Fri 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Google Rating: 4.9/5
Website: Able Spaces
Facebook page: Able Spaces
Email address: sales@ablespaces.co.nz
Phone: 0800 277 223
Service Areas: Wellington area
Customer Feedback:
- Ease of delivery without any issues
- Trustworthy and reliable builders
- Excellent and prompt communication
- Has good attention to detail
- Provides affordable yet high-quality service
- Keeps the client informed about the progress
Pros:
- Provides affordable and transportable homes
- Member of New Zealand Certified Builders Association
- Licensed Building Practitioners
- A SiteSafe member
Cons:
- Closed during Mondays and weekends
- Able Spaces provides transportable homes, cabins and spaces throughout New Zealand.
- They deliver portable buildings throughout New Zealand, but they provide building services for those within the Wellington area.
- Able Spaces provides custom builds, prefabricated, modular and transportable homes, as well as commercial portable buildings.
COE Built Ltd
Base: Mobile only
Hours: Mon to Fri 7:30 am – 5:30 pm
Google Rating: 5.0/5
Phone: 027 230 9187
Website: COE Built Ltd
Facebook page: COE Built Ltd
Email address: info@coebuilt.co.nz
Service Areas: Wellington
Customer Feedback:
Pros:
Cons:
Important Must-know Facts and Services:
Hours: Mon to Fri 7:30 am – 5:30 pm
Google Rating: 5.0/5
Phone: 027 230 9187
Website: COE Built Ltd
Facebook page: COE Built Ltd
Email address: info@coebuilt.co.nz
Service Areas: Wellington
Customer Feedback:
- Communicates the time when the job will finish
- Excellent workmanship
- Quick to contact
Pros:
- A Licensed Building Practitioner
Cons:
- None
Important Must-know Facts and Services:
- COE Built Ltd is a Licensed Building Practitioner in New Zealand that works to provide renovations, and affordable house builds and landscaping.
B K Patterson Builders Ltd
Base: Seaview, Lower Hutt
Hours: Tue to Fri 7:30 am – 5:30 pm, Sat 8 am – 1 pm
Google Rating: 5.0/5
Phone: 021 490 107
Website: B K Patterson Builders Ltd
Facebook page: B K Patterson Builders Ltd
Email address: admin@buildingwellington.co.nz
Service Areas: Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua, Kapiti Coast, South Wairarapa, Carterton and Masterton
Customer Feedback:
Pros:
Cons:
Important Must-know Facts and Services:
Hours: Tue to Fri 7:30 am – 5:30 pm, Sat 8 am – 1 pm
Google Rating: 5.0/5
Phone: 021 490 107
Website: B K Patterson Builders Ltd
Facebook page: B K Patterson Builders Ltd
Email address: admin@buildingwellington.co.nz
Service Areas: Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua, Kapiti Coast, South Wairarapa, Carterton and Masterton
Customer Feedback:
- Provides great value and attention to detail
- Respectful and professional builders
- Outstanding craftsmanship
- They make you feel confident about the process
Pros:
- With 30 years of industry experience
- Licensed Building Practitioner
- Registered Master Builders
Cons:
- Closed during Mondays and Sundays
Important Must-know Facts and Services:
- B K Patterson Builders Ltd has 30 years of experience providing Wellington and Hutt Valley with construction and building services.
- They specialise in renovations, new builds, commercial fit-outs, landscaping, alterations and additions.
​Smartway Builders Limited
Base: Tawa, Wellington
Hours: Mon to Fri 8 am – 6 pm
Google Rating: 4.4/5
Website: Smartway Builders Limited
Facebook: Smartway Builders Limited
Email address: Not specified
Phone: 021 030 4291
Service Areas: Wellington
Customer Feedback:
Pros:
Cons:
Important Must-know Facts and Services:
Hours: Mon to Fri 8 am – 6 pm
Google Rating: 4.4/5
Website: Smartway Builders Limited
Facebook: Smartway Builders Limited
Email address: Not specified
Phone: 021 030 4291
Service Areas: Wellington
Customer Feedback:
- Any problems that may arise are being thoroughly discussed to allow quick solutions without holding up the project
- Helps with arranging permits and liaises with third party engineers
- Completes the project on time
- Friendly and professional staff
- Their final price is within the quoted price range
Pros:
- Licensed Building Practitioners
Cons:
- Based in Wellington but services throughout the Greater Wellington Region, including the Lower Hutt
Important Must-know Facts and Services:
- Smartway Builders Limited is a building company that started in 2011 as a real estate buy and sell company.
- Their builders are New Zealand Approved Licensed Building Practitioners specializing in home builds, renovations and extensions.
- They also help with the design, planning, landscaping, construction paving and pergolas paths.
⚠️ Disclaimer: MoneyHub.co.nz has no financial or otherwise relationship with any businesses listed on this page. The pricing information provided is for informational and guidance purposes only and may not accurately represent the actual quotes or final bills for individual services. No provider has paid to appear on our website, and this list should not be considered comprehensive. Please research and obtain quotes directly from a range of businesses to ensure accurate pricing and suitability for your needs.
